Real name Jacob Matlala Stance Orthodox Height 1.47 m Nickname(s) Baby Jake Wins 53 Martial art Boxing | Rated at flyweight Name Jacob Matlala Total fights 64 Nationality South African Role Boxer | |
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Born 1 August 1962
Meadowlands, South Africa ( 1962-08-01 ) Died December 7, 2013, Johannesburg, South Africa Education University of South Africa Division Light flyweight, Flyweight | ||
Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala (1 August 1962 – 7 December 2013) was a South African boxer and junior flyweight champion from Meadowlands, Johannesburg. In 2004, Matlala was voted #72 in the "100 Greatest South Africans" poll organized by SABC.
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Death
Jacob Matlala died on 7 December 2013, at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
The former World Boxing Organisation, World Boxing Union (WBU) and International Boxing Association flyweight world champion had been admitted to hospital on numerous occasions over the past few years with complications related to pneumonia. Johannesburg – Dressed in royal blue and white uniforms and black berets, the New Covenant Church brass band escorted the coffin of boxing legend Jacob "Baby Jake" Matlala into the Rhema Church auditorium on Friday morning.
Trivia
At a height of 1.47 meters, or 4-foot-10, Matlala was the shortest boxing world champion ever. With a total of 68 fights (53 wins and 2 draws), he ended his career with 4 world championships. He presented his WBU belt to Nelson Mandela after his fight to Juan Herrera.
